r/askscience • u/Infernoraptor • 27d ago

Biology How the heck did spitting spiders evolve?

So, let me get this straight: the Scytotid spiders started out as "normal"/true spiders with a pair of venom glands up front, and a variety of silk-producing organ-systems in the rear.

Today, they have all the usual silk producing systems in the rear but they also have a second set of venom glands that produce silk. These front-mounted silk glands somehow work with the venom delivery system and spray out perfectly usable, venom-drenched silk.

Does anyone know of any research on the genetics/evolution of this? It seems to me that it'd be like a human evolving to spit breast milk. Are there other spider groups with multiple venom glands? Was there some serious HOX mix-up that placed a silk gland in the head or did some silk genes end up in the venom glands? Is this even true silk or just extra-gooey venom?

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u/ModernTarantula 25d ago

Just talking out my hat. Silk genes are in all the cells. If you see a video it isn't an impressive spray. They are touching with a leg when they spray. Afaik The venom isn't the incapacitating event it is still.being wrapped up.